Pop-Up Alert for Hot House from Playland

The original Hot House location. Photo via Facebook.

By Dana Eastland. For a deep dive into San Francisco culinary history (one of our favorites over here), be sure to check out The Original Hot House from Playland pop-up at Al-Masri in the Outer Richmond on Saturday January 30th. From 12pm-3pm, you can try replicas of the famed Mexican restaurant’s cup-shaped tamales and their well-known red sauce. The original Hot House was in operation from 1934-1996, first at Playland at the Beach and then later on Balboa in the Outer Richmond, according to Streetwise.

Now, the son of the final owner, Eric Faranda, is hosting monthly pop-ups that include the famous tamales, enchiladas, and chile con carne. Be sure to follow along on Facebook for more details and to catch all of his pop-ups inspired by the San Francisco tradition. (Hat tip to Chowhound.) Al-Masri, 4031 Balboa St. at 41st Ave., 415-876-2300.